The theory dependence of observation

• • Whether one aims to confirm or refute theories, observational evidence surely plays a key role in the rise and success of science. That seems to require that theory and observation are distinct so that the latter can be a true test of the former. But there are powerful arguments to think that both observation statements or reports and the very process of observation is theory dependent. Are they right? And if they are, how should we understand the role of observation? Hanson, N.R. (1958) Patterns of Discovery, Cambridge: CUP extract from chapter 1 pp 4-24

  • Churchland, P. (1979) Scientific Realism and the Plasticity of Mind, Cambridge CUP chapter 2 pp7-45 especially pp 7-14 & 30-35

  • Fodor, J. (1984) 'Observation reconsidered' Philosophy of Science 51: 23-43 (get a sense of Fodor's arguments that the theory depedence of observation has been over emphasised).

Secondary and background reading: